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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-03-22-HSC-min.pdf Human Services Committee Minutes of the Meeting of March 22, 1982 Present Steve Baran, Roberta Black, Howard Reynolds, Nancy Zarle, Ilene White, Judy Zabin, Ruth Nablo also Bea Phear The Minutes of March 8 were approved as mailed Committee members distributed and discussed drafts for the interim report to the Selectmen The results of those are attached and merged with these minutes There was discussion about whether this report would be distributed to Town Meeting It was decided that that will be mentioned to Jim Crain, however it is the Selectmen's dicision to make Bea reported that at the staff meeting that morning, the Manager had requested that staff inform their committees that it is the committee's reponsibility to communicate with the Selectmen and to gather information they might need, rather than the Selectmen's task to keep committees informed By implication, it then becomes staff responsibility to keep everyone informed Steve suggested communication as a future area for brainstorming **** Next Meeting Monday, March 29, 7 30 pm, room 111 ( There will be no committee meeting on April 5, the first day of Town Meeting Respectfully Submitted, t=CT's • . Beatrice Phear f4 L TO The Board of Selectmen FROM. The Human Services Committee DATE March 26, 1982 The Human Services Committee has held ten full committee meetings since convening in December, 1981 Additionally, the Committee has divided into small sub-committees to evaluate and monitor programs of agencies that use Town funds On January 18, 1982 we presented a preliminary oral report to the Board of Selectmen focusing on six service areas All !agencies !are facing cuts in federal-and state heightens the difficulty of making choices for the Selectmen We are pleased to submit this updated report for you consideration. RePlace (Roberta Black and Judy Zabin) RePlace continues to provide a variety of excellent counseling and support services to Lexington young people and their families This is a highly utilized agency, strongly emphasizing prevention in its drop-in center, telephone response, street work, education and emergency housing Progress during the past months includes a new understanding supporting the payment to RePlace by the School Department for services provided to students and staff A contract has beer signed whereby the schools will reimburse RePlace for counseling services at the rate of $20 per hour through June 1, with expectations of $30 per hour in Fiscal Year 1983 In addition, RePlace and the schools are discussing areas already in the education budget for which RePlace could also be compensated, including testing and consultation. It is hoped that this new relationship with the Schools may result in new revenue of $500-$1,000 The RePlace Board of Directors has been very active in fundraising Activities are a raffle ($120 sold to date) , a Walkathon scheduled for May 16, and a Dance on May 21 The finance drive letters will go to targetted business and industry people on the first of April, and other letters will go to past contributors on April 15 The Hancock Church minister and staff have high praise for RePlace staff RePlace Board and staff will be meeting with Ron Wells and the Lexington Youth Commission on April 27 so that both groups serving young people can coordinate their activities The Human Services Committee applauds them for their cooperation with other groups and dedication to searching for outside funds However we are concerned with staff burnout The funding provided by the Town plus these other sources will be just sufficient to maintain the status quo and reduce the current $6,000 deficit, however they will not be able to hire a new person to run the drop-in program and the closely linked volunteer program These programs are preventative in nature and can detect incipient problems which can be identified early in this informal setting In light of the Safehouse closing, we also want to point out that RePlace maintains a network of families to provide short term emergency shelter Bill Blout is also exploring alternatives with Burlington and Waltham Recommended We support the fullest funding possible for Replace 'stic Valley (Stan Finkelstein, Tom Zarle) The Human Services Committee continues to endorse a ten thousand dollare appropriation from the Town of Lexington to Mystic Valley Mental Health Center Association, Inc t is the opinion of this committee that the residents of the Town derive multiple benefits from the diverse array of services provided by this agency Committee had recommended in January that a contract be drawn up that designated Safehouse as the program within Mystic Valley that the Town would fund and monitor ecaase of the closing of Safehouse, the Committee is working with Mystic Valley to develop one or more alternate contracts At this time we have not yet identified the specific target program The Town has adopted a preventative human services policy In view of that the Committee is considering a recommendation to evaluate and monitor an early intervention program Mystic Valley has proposed that we fund their crisis intervention program, and we are considering monitoring that as well .e expect to continue to meet with Mystic Valley regularly to design an alternate contract by June In addition to discussions with the agency staff and Lexington Board members, the sub-committee plans to meet with the executive committee of the Board We have also been active with the Mystic Valley neighborhood on a number of issues Recommended Funding $10,000 CMARC (Ruth Nablo) Central Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens continues as last year to ==-r1 represent its pre-vocational and vocational programs through quarterly __sorting and the agency fully responds in relation to the criteria for good services as outlined by last year's Human Services Committee The money previously appropriated for the support of a Contract Procurement Officer has been well spent, since ample contracts have been obtained It had been the understanding of the Selectmen that _=_ARC was well launched and would not be in need of funding this year 'or FY83, $5,000 was requested for new admissions from Lexington In January 1982, this information had not been confirmed, and the Committee recommended that there be no appropriation. However we have since been notified that the Area Office of The Department of Mental Health has identified at least five mentally retarded adults rho are in need of day programs It is likely that some of these wl1 be placed in CMARC in addition to the six Lexington residents now being served CMARC does have the physical capacity to take new clients The Human Services Committee recommends renewing the contract for fiscal year 1983 rather than focus on funding clients This would enhance the program at CMARC at a time when industrial contracts are gaining in importance for their funding by targetting our money to the salary of the full time procurement worker recommended Funding $5 000 L Council on Aging (Howard Reynolds, Ilene White, Nancy Zarle) ( The Human Services Committee endorses the recommendation of the Board of Selectmen for the appropriated $43,884 for the Council on Aging for fiscal year 1983 =n -ak_ng this recommendation we would make note of the fact that the Board should be aware of the potential cut in federal funding for Senior Aides, as it will impact on the :eal Site program and Outreach Work at the CoA These two programs are run m- Senior Aides funded through Minuteman Home Care Corporation, each of whom ;orks 20 hours a week at the Lexington Council on Aging under the direction of Joan Melcher We feel these two very important services for the elderly should continue, and, if necessary, support from the Town should be considered essential The Human Services Committee is hoping to be able to work with the Council on Aging and the designated developer as plans for the Muzzey School evolve Recommended Funding $43,884 Chair Car The Human Services Committee has been in close communication with the Chair Car committee and supports the concept of Lexington purchasing time from Minuteman Home Care Corporation for use of this handicap van service as a demonstration The Committee believes it is a worthwhile service, providing transportation for ( indi Tidtials who are ineligible for Minuteman's regular program These include t=ocb-, :he are over-income, who need trips other than medical , and who are under age 60 We plan to monitor the use of the chair car in order to learn if it is meeting a real need Recommended. Funding $5000 L ( inO re CENTRAL MIDDLESEX ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS, INC. Two Sixth Road Woburn, MA 01801 (617) 935-7057 January 8, 1982 Lexington Board of Health 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA 02173 To Whom It May Concern A 4b of Clients employed at CMARC for October, 1981 - 56 November, 1981 - 57 December, 1981 - 58 # of Clients served from Lexington for October, - 5 November, - 5 December, - 5 B 56 Clients funded in October, 1981 57 Clients funded in November, 1981 58-Clients funded in December, 1981 with 8 funding agencies C. Direct Services Ratio, 1 9 for October and November 1 8 for December, 1981 D 14 Outside Contracts for Oct , 12 for November, 12 for December E Income from Outside Contracts - $ 5,091 77 for October 6,092 93 for November 8,118 52 for December, 1981 F Average weekly Client payroll was $794.43 for last quarter of 1981 Serving Lexington, Arlington, Woburn, Wilmington, Winchester